Italian · Everyday Verbs
"to look for" in Italian: cercare
cercare
To look for in Italian is cercare (cher-KAH-reh). Io cerco, tu cerchi, lui/lei cerca. Past participle cercato / cercata.
Flat hunt
Cerco un appartamento vicino al metro.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cercare
Say it
cher-KAH-reh
/tʃerˈka.re/
Cercare stresses KAH: cher-KAH-reh. Soft ch before e. Cerco is CHER-koh.
"to look for" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| cercare | to look for / search Objects, people, jobs. | Objects, people, jobs. |
| cerco / cerchi / cerca | I look for / you look for / he-she looks for Present singular. | Present singular. |
| cerchiamo | we look for Shared search. | Shared search. |
| cercato / cercata | looked for Past participle. | Past participle. |
How to use cercare in real life
- 1Flat hunt
Cerco un appartamento vicino al metro.
I'm looking for a flat near the metro.
Cerco.
- 2Shop help
Cerchi qualcosa in particolare?
Are you looking for something in particular?
Cerchi.
- 3After a party
Abbiamo cercato le chiavi sotto il divano.
We looked for the keys under the sofa.
Cercato.
Mistakes English speakers make with cercare
Incorrect: Io cercare il telefono.
Correct: Cerco il telefono.
Conjugate: io cerco.
Incorrect: Sto looking for Marta.
Correct: Sto cercando Marta. / Cerco Marta.
Use cercare forms, not English looking.
Good to know
Shop assistants open with cerchi qualcosa? It is friendly, not pushy. Cerco casa is the classic flat-hunt status line.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Hunting for a birthday gift
ChatPal
Cerchi ancora un regalo per Luca?
Are you still looking for a gift for Luca?
You
Sì, cerco qualcosa di utile ma carino.
Yes, I'm looking for something useful but nice.
ChatPal
Allora cerchiamo in libreria.
Then let's look in the bookshop.
You
Andiamo.
Let's go.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to look for" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to look for" in Italian
How do I say I'm looking for…?
Cerco…
You look for (tu)?
Cerchi.
Past?
Ho cercato.
Cercare vs trovare?
Cercare = look for; trovare = find.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
